How Stagflation Is Reshaping the Movie Theater Business

Stagflation Conversations with Fexingo: High Inflation, Slow Growth, and 1970s Echoes · Jun 28, 2026 · 7m · transcript

Lucas and Luna examine how persistent stagflation is transforming the movie theater industry. With core inflation at 3.4% and real wage growth lagging, consumers are cutting back on discretionary spending, and theater chains are feeling the pinch. Lucas breaks down the data: even as blockbuster releases draw crowds, per-capita spending on concessions has dropped by 4.5% year-over-year, while operating costs for theaters have risen 12% due to higher energy and labor expenses. Luna notes that AMC and Regal are experimenting with dynamic pricing and subscription models to maintain margins. They…